That Voice: A Decade With The Performers On NBC's The Voice

Kirk grew up in Alabama extremely poor and remembers times when there was no electricity, water or even food. At five years old, Kirk started playing drums at church and singing in the choir. In 2014, Kirk met a music manager who brought him to perform for Teddy Gentry, the bass player for the band Alabama. In 2015, Kirk started doing open mics and shocked the audience with his country sound. Word...

Michael knew he wanted to perform music from a very young age. Most kids were at home watching cartoons while he was listening to the blues and going to shows. Michael spent his life pursuing the blues, but the rocker lifestyle was proving to be too much and he eventually hit a low point. Michael later met his wife, who helped turn things around for him. The newlyweds do everything together, inclu...

Music and church are two very important aspects of Kymberli's life. She is a worship leader and minister, and she sings in the choir at her church, where her parents are pastors. Kymberli was able to find her personality and artistry in her college gospel choir. For the past seven years, she has been working alongside chart-topping gospel singer JJ Hairston. One of the albums they recorded has bee...

Sarah Grace is a young Southern belle with an artistic side. Sarah Grace had synesthesia when she was younger, a condition in which she would see colors in response to hearing music. While she later lost this sensory gift, it was what inspired Sarah Grace to pursue music. Sarah plays a variety of instruments at her local high school and even started her own band with her family. "The Voice" is an...

MaKenzie has returned to "The Voice" feeling more confident than ever. Unfortunately, MaKenzie did not make a team during the Season 14 Blind Auditions, but she took the coaches' advice very seriously. She spent the last year refining her vocals, dispelling her nerves and performing with a gospel band called Elevated Praise to prepare for her second audition. "The Voice" is much more than an oppor...

His blind audition: DeAndre Nico, 23, of Port Arthur, Texas, performed Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.” Adam Levine turned at the first run-through of the chorus and was quickly joined by Jennifer Hudson. Near the end of the performance, Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton turned too, giving DeAndre just the second four-chair turn of Season 15. Adam calls him “a beast,” saying his voice is “both ri...

Reagan is one of the youngest artists in the competition and has dreamed of becoming "The Voice" since watching Season 1 when she was just six years old. After performing at local fairs for two years, Reagan got the chance to sing the national anthem for 16,000 people at a Memphis Grizzlies game, and she was a real show-stopper. She loves to use her music to spread joy and happiness. She currently...

Franc spent his childhood watching his mother lead and direct the church choir. Inspired, he quickly learned to play the piano and drums, but didn't discover his voice until joining the Navy. Franc infused music into his position as a cadence caller, making up songs instead of yelling the traditional "left, right, left" until he was honorably discharged. After nearly a decade of indie songwriting,...

Patrique grew up in the music industry... quite literally. By the time he was six years old, Patrique had signed to a record label and became the youngest gospel recording artist ever. He spent two years touring the United States until the label suddenly went bankrupt. Patrique put music on a long pause as he pursued a career in the insurance industry. The discovery of R&B beyond his gospel roots...

As the nephew of legendary blues guitarist Etta Baker, Terrence has music in his DNA. He started playing the piano at just 3 years old and by 13, Terrence began getting paid as the music director of his church. Three short years later, Terrence found out he would be a father at the age of 16. With the support of his family, Terrence and was able to co-parent and still focus on his musical talents....

Gary currently works as an IT processor, but his true passion has always been teaching music to kids. Feeling pressure to study a subject other than music, Gary studied elementary education instead. While in school, Gary worked as a school janitor and spent his nights in the music room teaching himself piano. After some difficulties, Gary began taking on some small singing opportunities and briefl...

When Austin was 19 he went on tour with his Emmy-award winning guitarist dad, Tommy Allsup, and his band “Bob Will’s Texas Playboys.” In 2005, Austin put out his first record and went on a national tour. Later that year he performed at an event hosted by 99.5 “The Wolf” that featured Blake Shelton as part of the lineup. Since then Austin has played in about 150 shows a year. He met his wife at one...

In 2012, Jackie was T-boned by a car that ran a red light. The accident left Jackie with severe physical injuries and a loss of confidence in her future. Her dreams of moving to Alabama and cheering in college were halted. Jackie spent the first few months inside after the accident, not ready to face the outside world. She quickly turned to the keyboard her aunt had gifted her and music became the...

Mia has been playing piano, singing and songwriting for most of her life. After making the semi-finals on a talent competition show ("America's Got Talent") at 15, Mia was bullied online for her weight. This left her self-esteem shattered and drive to pursue music dwindling. After years of hiding and unhealthy practices, Mia decided to no longer allow others to influence her. Mia adopted healthy e...

Jorge grew up in Guadalajara to a Latin Grammy-nominated mariachi father and musical mother. Jorge is no stranger to "The Voice" franchise: He received a four-chair turn on Mexico's "La Voz" and made it to the final four on J Balvin's team. Following this success, Jorge moved to Texas where he performs as a wedding and event singer. Jorge also began teaching himself recording software so he can re...

From and current city St. Louis, MO Tish often sang in church where her father was a preacher. At just 14, Tish found out she was pregnant and prematurely gave birth to her daughter, Ashlynn. Tish's parents were key in helping her raise her daughter while she went to college. Twelve years later, Tish gave birth to her son and faced the tragedy of losing both her parents within 18 months of each ot...

Kelly Clarkson's rookie season on NBC's the voice has earned her a crowned champion. Brynn Cartelli got past two of Blake Shelton's top stars to take home one of the most respected trophies in the entertainment business. Growing up, Britton preferred picking flowers in the outfield to playing the actual game. He left sports behind and followed his intuition toward guitar and musical theatre. Britt...

Music has served as the only constant in Sharane's turbulent upbringing. At10, Sharane was adopted by an older cousin while her twin sister was adopted by an outside family member. Sharane's adoptive mom was soon diagnosed with breast cancer and continues her battle. The violin became an escape for Sharane during these difficult times. It wasn't until high school gospel choir that Sharane and her...

Growing up, Britton preferred picking flowers in the outfield to playing the actual game. He left sports behind and followed his intuition toward guitar and musical theatre. Britton's parents introduced him to '70s and '80s rock and folk music. When he was 13, he joined a classic rock band and a year later won a songwriting contest that gave him the opportunity to record with renowned engineer Joh...

From San Antonio, TX/Current city: Boerne, TX Spensha grew up on military bases and knew very little outside of her church world. The first time she sang secular music was in 2004 on a singing competition show in which she came in second place and was signed to Interscope Records. At 12, Spensha released Interscope's first gospel record and toured the world. After her deal ended, Spensha moved to...

Kaleb has always turned to music as a hobby and an emotional outlet as his biological father left before he could remember. His mom and dad got him a guitar when he was 8 and throughout high school and college, he sang for local shows and events. After graduating, Kaleb and wife, Meagan, moved to Owensboro, KY where he led worship for a church and began traveling to Nashville where he connected wi...

Pryor had a very simple upbringing without most amenities such as heat or electricity. He spent his time playing guitar, listening to records and leading a blues band. Pryor dropped out of college, where he was studying fruit science, to pursue music. His band had success touring the blues world, however Pryor moved to Nashville wanting more. Paying the bills took precedence over music, but Pryor...

Rayshun made the decision to dedicate his life to music very early on and went on to study vocal performance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After receiving a call back for "The Lion King" on Broadway, Rayshun dropped out of school. Despite not getting the part, he threw himself into the music scene until it all came to a screeching halt when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer an...

Jackie has grown up surrounded by singing siblings and a guitar-playing dad. In high school, Jackie enrolled in Berklee College of Music's summer program where she studied a variety of different genres, but fell in love with rock. Berklee offered her a four-year scholarship to the school and Jackie knew she wanted to be a professional musician. At school she became the lead singer of an alternativ...

D.R.'s dad was his first musical influence providing memories of singing together in church. However, when his parents separated he lost contact with his dad but continued to pursue music. Initially he took some jobs teaching in elementary schools, but in 2012 D.R. took the opportunity of a six-month residency at a Motown bar in Nagoya, Japan. Upon his return, D.R. booked a gig in an Off-Broadway...